Anne's Beach (Islamorada)
Islamorada, Florida · Monroe County
Anne's Beach is a shallow, ankle-deep flats paddle on the ocean side of the Keys, easygoing enough for beginners on a calm morning with a higher tide. There is no rental kiosk here, so bring your own board. Free roadside parking, a boardwalk, and wide-open flats make it worth the drive south.
The Paddle
The flats here are shallow, ocean-side water off Lower Matecumbe Key, calm and easy enough for a beginner. Expect rays, sea turtles, nurse and lemon sharks, and wading birds out on the grass flats, plus mangroves along the boardwalk and open Keys vistas in every direction. Aim for a calm morning, low wind, and a higher tide, since the flats get skinny fast as the water drops.
Launch & Parking
Launch straight off the sandy beach. Parking is free in the roadside lots, though space is limited, so get there early if you can.
Rentals
There is no rental kiosk on-site, so plan to bring your own board. A handful of outfitters elsewhere in Islamorada carry rental gear if you are coming from out of town without one.
Rules & Safety
Watch for wind exposure out on the open flats, thick seagrass in the shallows, and a light current. Statewide paddleboard rules apply on this water too; the summary below covers them.
Getting Here
Anne's Beach sits well south of our four stores in Broward and Palm Beach County, so this is a paddle to plan around a Keys trip rather than a same-day run from home. When you are back up our way, check our locations page for the nearest Island Water Sports store.
Florida paddleboard rules
Outside designated swimming, surfing, and bathing areas, Florida and the U.S. Coast Guard treat a stand-up paddleboard as a vessel, which means basic boating rules apply. Carry one Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board, and children under 6 must wear theirs while the board is underway. You also need a whistle or other sound device audible for at least half a nautical mile, and after sunset or in poor visibility, a flashlight or lantern with a white light to signal your position. Inside a marked swimming or surfing area these vessel rules do not apply. Non-motorized paddleboards under 16 feet do not need Florida registration. Rules can change, so check current FWC guidance before you paddle.
Summarized from FWC and U.S. Coast Guard guidance, verified 2026-08-12. Rules can change; check current FWC guidance.
FAQ
Can I rent a paddleboard at Anne's Beach?
Not on-site. There is no rental kiosk at the park itself, so bring your own board or rent from an outfitter elsewhere in Islamorada before you arrive.
Is Anne's Beach good for beginner paddlers?
Yes, it is one of the easier spots around. The flats are shallow and calm, especially on a higher tide, which is exactly when this spot paddles best.
What will I see while paddling at Anne's Beach?
Rays, sea turtles, nurse and lemon sharks, and wading birds are all regulars on the flats, along with mangroves lining the boardwalk and open Keys scenery.
Nearby paddle spots
Coral GablesCrandon Park / Key Biscayne
Key BiscayneOleta River State Park
North Miami BeachWest Lake Park / Anne Kolb Nature Center
Hollywood